Melges 24 World Championship

This was the official event website for the2012 Melges 24 World Championship. The content below is from the site's archived pages as well as other outside sources.

Press Release

2012 Melges 24 World Championship - Here Come The Corinthians

24/07/2012

Along with the fight for the overall title, that will involve at least ten very strong crews and a good number of outsiders, the 2012 Melges 24 World Championship in Torbole, the stage will also be set for another battle: the one aimed at the conquest of the Corinthian title.

Always much coveted, the Corinthian competition, for the non-professional crews, represents an added value: the Corinthians, sometimes capable of performance very similar to those of the professionals, may point to the double success. As usual, the Corinthians will race within the overall fleet, but their results will be scored as a separate competition (i.e., first Corinthian may finish 13th on the water, but he will score 1 point in the Corinthian results, second Corinthian may finish 19 on the water, but he will score 2 Corinthian points, and so on).

During the Torbole's Melges 24 Worlds (July 28th-August 4th), the entry list will count 65 Corinthian crews coming from 17 Nations - a record for the International Melges 24 Class Association - but will not include the defending champion Eachiro Hamazaki, who won the title in Corpus Christi in May 2011. Among the favorites to the win there are Storm Capital Sail Racing, helmed by the solid Norwegian skipper Peter Oivynd, former Corinthian World Champion in 2008 and 2010, the Estonian brothers Tomas and Tonu Toniste sailing Lenny, who won the World title in Hyeres in 2006 and became European Corinthian Champions in Neaustadt (2007) and Aarhus (2011), and their countrymen of Rock City, the Melges 24 owned by Tiit Vihul. Italy can count on a couple of crews that have been showing great consistency lately: Pensavo Peggio di Beppe Zavanone and Alessio Marinelli, fresh from their success in the Corinthian grouping of the Italian Volvo Melges 24 Cup 2012, and SIV Arborea helmed by Lorenzo Gemini, who finished second in the same competition.

All eyes are also on the Californian Robert Harf, one of America's leading Corinthian skippers, who will be debuting in the Old Continent aboard his USA-77, and Michael Good, helmsman of Swiss Team Holcim, the third force in the Corinthian Volvo Cup 2012.

Events like the 2012 Melges 24 World Championship are not possible without the most generous support of the event sponsors led by the Municipality of Comune di Nago Torbole and including the Regional Authority of Trentino; TrentoDoc, partner of Circolo Vela Torbole whose excellent selection of sparkling wines will be enjoyed by all; Trentingrana, whose cheese is made using milk exclusively from the Trentino area; InGarda, the touristic company supporting visitors to Lark Garda; and technical sailing clothing supplier Marinepool.

Organised by Circolo Vela Torbole in collaboration with the International Melges 24 Class Association, the 2012 Melges 24 World Championship will count a maximum of twelve races, with up to three daily races. Five races are required to made the event valid, although the famous weather conditions, typical of the northern Garda, should make this rule unnecessary.

Torbole, at 67 metres above sea-level, is situated on the extreme north-western appendix of the Baldo chain and it is set as an amphitheatre on Lake Garda. The lake, once only valuable to fishermen and traders, is still the most precious resource together with 2079 meter high Monte Baldo, which was once a seemingly inexhaustible mine of firewood and game though now it is a protected area for its rare flora, sometimes even endemic

Circolo Vela Torbole – Lake Garda – Trentino – Italy Nov 26, 2011

The Torbole Sailing Club was born in 1964 and it now counts 300 members. It is one of the most important and famous clubs both in Italy and in Europe. All its regattas are considered international because of the constant participation of Olympic champions and complete national teams. The secrets of such a success are certainly to be searched for in Torbole, with its constant winds and its enviable position, but above all in an organisation that, according to everyone, is always flawless.

Our amazing Melges 24 Worlds Press Team from Zerogradinord did an amazing job all week. Huge thanks to Mauro, Janna and Paola for helping to ensure that the outside world could share in the excitement and fun that was the 2012 Melges 24 World Championship.

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News Posts

RIBs Available For Worlds Charter

Feb 10, 2012 No Comments by Fiona

If you are looking for a RIB to use as a coach boat for the Melges 24 Worlds in Torbole check out www.coachboat.com who have a fleet of 10 x VSR 5.4s RIBS with 60hp engines and 4 x VSR 5.8Rs with 70hp engines on offer. They are offering a special 5% discount to anyone who books before the 28 February so if you need a RIB for the event give them a call.

170 days until 2012 World Championship

Feb 09, 2012 No Comments by Francesco

In 170 days starts the 2012 Melges 24 World Championship. At the Circolo Vela Torbole the staff is working hard for this Event. There will be a new Marina for moor all competitors in the best way. In some days come out also the official NoR and the entry site will be on this website.

We propose a ‘social tips’ from today. All the next news, details, opinion etc.. will be posted on social networks with the hashtag #m24torbole2012.

Regards from Lake Garda,

we’re waiting to see who will be the new World Champion…

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Getting There

You can get to Torbole by PLANE the nearby airports are:

VRN Verona Catullo

BGY Bergamo Orio al Serio

MON Brescia Montichiari

LIN Milano Linate

If you wish to reach the Garda trentino by CAR the motorway A22 (Modena-Brennero) is the fastest way. The exit is “Rovereto- Sud – Lago di Garda nord” 15 kms. from Torbole.

Arriving from Brescia you should travel about 80 kms. along the state road 45 bis (West Gardesana) which takes you to Riva del Garda and then Torbole; the stretch of the road between Gargnano and Riva has many tunnels and is rather narrow.

Along with friends, I traveled to the 2012 Melges 24 World Championship via the state rao 45. Sure is was a bit hairy driving, but also afforded fabulous views of Lake Garda. And we took our time, by breaking up the trip into three days of driving with a bit of sighte seeing, leisurely lunches and dinners, and impromptu stops where ever there was a great view. We were quite distinctive by our wearing cool Batman T shirts every day. We had discovered this fantastic website - MoonAtMidnight.com - in the US that featured a huge collection of Batman shirts and hoodies. Before we left the states we all decided that we would don a different Batman T-shirt each day, so we bought a nice variation of MoonAtMidnight Batman T shirts to take on the trip. We're all Batman fans and thought we would make a statement while in Europe for the summer months. One of my co travelers is a sailing maniac and when he learned that the 2012 Melges 24 World Championship were being held in Circolo Vela Torbole on Lake Garda, he insisted we add it to our itinerary. And we are all grateful that we did. It was really thrilling to watch the races and mingle with the crowds. And wearing the Batman t-shirts was a great way to meet people. We stayed a few days after the races and then headed south down the east side of Lake Garda to our next destination which was Verona and then onto Venice.

The East Gardesana (state road 249) is wider and easier to drive, but beware during the tourist season there is often heavy traffic around Lake Garda. With East Gardesana you arrive direct at the Sailing Club.

To reach Garda Trentino by BUS there are direct connections from Trento & Rovereto(Trentino Trasporti), from Verona & Desenzano (A.P.T.V. bus service); from Brescia(S.I.A. bus service) & during the summer (from mid June to the end of September) also from Venezia (A.P.T.V. bus service)

For those travelling by TRAIN the nearest railway station is ;Rovereto ;(on the Brennero line) which is 17 kms from Torbole sul Garda. A Trentino Trasporti bus service connects Rovereto to Torbole, Riva and Arco.
Arriving from Milano or Venezia it is possible to get off at Desenzano, Peschiera or Verona.; From these towns you may take the A.P.T.V. (Azienda Provinciale Transport Verona) bus service to Torbole sul Garda.

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1st Day Press Release

First Day Surprises At 2012 Melges 24 World Championship In Torbole

30/07/2012

On two race courses, one in front of Torbole and one further south, located just north of Limone, the Melges 24 World Championship came under starters orders with the evergreen Melges 24s divided into four groups, identified by four colors.

More than 125 crews, from 22 nations, were in the water waiting for the much-anticipated start. During the first two races on the north course the orange group sailed against the blue group, while on the south the challenge was between the white and black groups.

At the conclusion of racing, Italy's Andrea Racchelli sailing Altea, with a second and a sixth, claims the top of the ranking while many of the favorites going into the day are trailing down in double digit position.

Conditions were extremely tough for all with many general recalls. Having been out of the Melges 24 fleet for some time Germany's Markus Wieser on AEZ, along with tactician Pascal Rambeau, proved that he certainly hasn't lost his touch in the class and thanks to a first and an eighth, is now lying second in the overall ranking by just one point. Outsider Tommaso del Rio's Maitech, put in two excellent performances of second and eighth to finish the day in third overall four points behind the leader. A most impressive achievement. Japan's Kan Yamamada, sailing Kanta-Ro Racing, is on equal points with Del Rio and lies fourth on countback. The top ten is completed by Norway's Kristoffer Spone, International Class Chairman Riccardo Simoneschi, Bora Gulari from the USA, Estonia's Peter Saraskin and a pair of Italiens, Carlo Fracassoli and Lorenzo Gemini.

Lorenzo Gemini's Sardinian team aboard SIV Arborea also hold the overall lead in the Corinthian ranking, just one point ahead of Marco Cavallini sailing Jeco Team with a family crew that includes Marco's father Gianni and brother Paolo, who lie fourteenth in the overall standings. Third Corinthian place is currently in the hands of Finland's Matias Sappovaara aboard Marquis de Conquistador, followed by Italy's Alessio Marinelli on Pensavo Peggio.

Tomorrow at least two more races are planned with race courses and groups reversed. Weather permitting the qualification series will conclude on Wednesday and with the introduction of the discard the fleet will be divided in Gold and Silver fleets.

Events like the 2012 Melges 24 World Championship are not possible without the most generous support of the event sponsors led by the Municipality of Comune di Nago Torbole and including the Regional Authority of Trentino; TrentoDoc, partner of Circolo Vela Torbole whose excellent selection of sparkling wines will be enjoyed by all; Trentingrana, whose cheese is made using milk exclusively from the Trentino area; InGarda, the touristic company supporting visitors to Lark Garda; and technical sailing clothing supplier Marinepool.

Organised by Circolo Vela Torbole in collaboration with the International Melges 24 Class Association, the 2012 Melges 24 World Championship will count a maximum of twelve races, with up to three daily races. Five races are required to made the event valid, although the famous weather conditions, typical of the northern Garda, should make this rule unnecessary.

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2012 NEWS

Prize Giving Video

Aug 07, 2012 by Fiona

Our amazing Melges 24 Worlds Press Team from Zerogradinord did an amazing job all week. Huge thanks to Mauro, Janna and Paola for helping to ensure that the outside world could share in the excitement and fun that was the 2012 Melges 24 World Championship. Here is their final video round up from the event.

2012 Melges 24 World Championship – Final Press Release

Aug 04, 2012 by Fiona

Gullisara claims the 2012 Melges 24 World Championship: one of the most coveted and prestigious titles in the sailing world was decided on the finish line of the final race when Carlo Fracassoli and his team had to wait an agonising four minutes for their nearest rival, Alberto Bolzan’s Saetta, to cross the finish line [...]

2012 Melges 24 Worlds – Check Out Pierrick Contin’s Great Images

Aug 04, 2012 by Fiona

We’ll have a video report and interviews from the final day for you tomorrow but in the meantime check out Pierrick Contin’s amazing final day image library at www.pierrickcontin.com